Addressing the Persistent Challenges in Education: A Call to Action for Developing Countries

The education sector in developing countries continues to face significant challenges, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating existing issues. A recent report highlighted four major problems that need urgent attention in order to improve education outcomes for children in these countries.

Firstly, the learning crisis has been worsened by school closures during the pandemic. Prior to COVID-19, the learning poverty rate in low- and middle-income countries was already high, with many children unable to read and understand basic texts by age 10. The impact of the pandemic has left students even further behind in their studies, with long-term negative effects on future earnings.

Secondly, there is a lack of focus on early childhood care and education (ECCE) in many countries. Proper ECCE can provide a strong foundation for children’s emotional wellbeing and learning throughout their lives, yet many countries do not have adequate legal frameworks in place to provide free and compulsory pre-primary education.

Thirdly, there is an inadequate supply of high-quality teachers in many low- and middle-income countries. The percentage of trained teachers has decreased in some regions, and there is a shortage of teachers for STEM subjects globally.

Lastly, decision-makers are not implementing evidence-based or pro-equity policies that guarantee solid foundations for education systems. This lack of attention to empirical evidence when designing policies is hindering progress in improving education outcomes.

To address these challenges, there are four supporting trends that can help improve education systems in developing countries. These include integrating neuroscience into education policies, reversing learning losses at home and at school, using evidence to improve teaching and learning, and leveraging the role of the private sector in education provision.

Despite the ongoing challenges facing the education sector, there is hope for improvement through the implementation of evidence-based policies and innovative approaches to teaching and learning. Governments must prioritize education reform in order to ensure a brighter future for children in developing countries.